'Queen of kiwi' to address businesswomen

Frieda Caplan, founder and chairman of the board of Frieda's Specialty Produce, will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming 10th annual Bravo Awards at the Moorpark Country Club on May 16.

The Bravo Awards, sponsored by the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, honor top achievers among women entrepreneurs and community leaders who have made significant contributions in their professional fields. Seven local women will be recognized.

At the event, Caplan will share the story of Frieda's Inc., the first woman-owned and operated, secondgeneration wholesale produce business in the United States.

Caplan, who founded the wholesale produce company in 1962, is credited with introducing many new and unusual fruits and vegetables, such as kiwifruit, jicama, and spaghetti squash, to produce departments and consumers nationwide.

Caplan has been called the "Queen of Kiwi" as well as the "VIP of Veggies" by Bon Appetit magazine.

For event ticket information, call (877) 629-2682 or visit www.nawbovc.org.